Posted on 02/12/2008 9:07:13 AM PST by lowbridge
Bigamist caught out when he invited the same guest to BOTH his 'weddings'
A bigamist was caught out when he invited the same guest to both his 'weddings' - and then had the bravado to arrive at court hand-in-hand with his first wife while he continues to live with his second wife, a court heard.
Ageing truck driver Randolph 'Ranchie' Edge, 54, married his first wife Edna Winkle and then struck up a relationship with innocent Patience Carey, 21, who is more than 30 years younger than him.
The bizarre chain of events only came to light when a wedding guest who Edge had invited to both of his 'weddings' realised something wasn't quite right and contacted the registry office.
Bigamist: Truck driver Randolf Edge arrives at court with his first wife Edna Winkle. He is still living with his other 'wife'
Edge escaped a possible seven-year jail sentence when he appeared at Norwich Crown Court - where he was spotted strolling hand-in-hand with first wife Ms Winkle.
The court heard that Edge and Ms Carey, who he started dating when she was just 17 and proposed to her after just a year, were now better friends than ever.
Judge Peter Thompson warned Edge that he had committed a serious crime and devalued the sanctity of marriage.
But he allowed the cheating lorry driver to go free - because both his wives had got over their heartache.
Judge Thompson told him: "You consciously deceived a 21-year-old, many years younger than yourself, who was completely convinced you were free to marry.
"You happily participated in a wedding day sham."
Caught out: Randolf Edge 'married' Patience Carey despite already being married
Frank Ferguson, prosecuting, said Edge wed Ms Winkle at Long Sutton register office in 2002.
In August 2006 they decided to separate but remained in contact and never divorced.
Edge began dating Ms Carey in 2004, when she was 17, and proposed to his teenage lover after just a year. The happy couple got 'married' at King~s Lynn register office last June.
Mr Ferguson said: "He told her he had been married 20 years earlier and all her family were present at the service where he declared himself to be single.
"Somebody who attended the 2002 ceremony was present and contacted the register office about their suspicions.
"When he was arrested Mr Edge admitted what he had done and said he 'was just going along with it'."
In a statement read to the court, Ms Carey said it had felt like her "heart was bleeding" when she first discovered the truth.
But she said she did not want the lying cheat to be jailed.
She said: "I want to forget about it and get on with my life."
Mr Ferguson added: "Mr Edge's legitimate wife is here with him today and their relationship has some prospect of being revived.
"There is still confusion over his relationship with each woman."
John Morgans, defending, said though he was no longer in a relationship with Ms Carey and that they now got on better than ever.
He said Edge and Ms Winkle intend to give marriage another try once the case was over and "the future is more clear".
At the time of the second marriage Edge was battling "bereavement, alcoholism and depression".
Mr Morgans added: "He is not trying to excuse his behaviour. He has an insight into the impact his behaviour has had on these two people and had tried to put this right now all parties are in the know.
"Despite her initial shock Patience Carey has come to terms with it and they are living together as friends."
Judge Thompson sentenced Edge to 12 months of supervision by probation officers and 100 hours of community service. He told Edge: "You are very lucky.
"The last person I sentenced for bigamy went straight to prison. You flouted a law designed to preserve respect for marriage.
"Do not treat anybody with this kind of disdain again."
Bigamy is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
It is not known how many polygamous marriages exist in Britain but the Department of Work and Pensions has estimated it could be up to 1,000.
What’s the maximum penalty for bigamy?
...Two Mothers in Law
Edna Winkle and Patience Carey?
Ranchie Edge, Edna Winkle and Patience Carey. Sounds like a Christopher Buckley novel.
This thread has nothing to do with a fog over Italy.
I'm not a truck driver and I'm older than 54 but happy to report that I am still "ageing". It's better than the alternative.
Hey, if he sported a turban he could get welfare for both of them.
This is discrimination. If he were Muslim, he’d be allowed to marry both women and put them on welfare.
Lets hope he’s muslim since the government said they are going to give free government aid to all the wives.
I thought “Ageing” was the name of the city where he lives.
Yeah, I thought the “aging” at 54 part was a little over the top, too!
The only other weird thing is that, in the photo, he seems to be wearing TWO wedding bands (one on his middle finger and the other on his ring finger). I guess if he kept on going, he’d have a whole fistfull of them. Sort of like brass knuckles.
THis is Much ado about nothing when sharia takes over.
This is Britain. Not Texas.
oops! It was supposed to be a link to FNC with a report on British welfare benefits being granted to polygamous Muslims ONLY for their multiple wives. That’s the gist, a 2 sec. search will turn up dozens of news reports. It was leaked from the British gov’t last Friday.
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